Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been announced as the 2011 African Footballer of the Year.

Toure, an Ivory Coast international, has established himself as a key player in the City team since arriving from Barcelona in 2010.

The midfielder scored the winner in City's FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United and in the final against Stoke, ending the club's 35-year trophy drought. His performances this season have also helped Roberto Mancini's side to the top of the Premier League.

A statement on the Confederation of African Football's official website, read: "The 28-year old pipped Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew and Malian Seydou Keita to scoop the top-most honour at the Awards Gala on
Thursday at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra."

Toure is only the second Ivorian to win the award since its inception in 1992, following in the footsteps on Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. The award was voted for by the head coaches of the national teams in Africa.